Iran inaugurates Chabahar Port as India bypasses Pakistan

Today Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday inaugurated the first phase of Chabahar port, also known as the Shahid Beheshti port. The port opened Afghanistan and Central Asia to Indian commerce while bypassing Pakistan.

Giving a boost to the bilateral ties between India and Iran, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has made an unannounced visit to Tehran, while returning from Sochi in Russia, ahead of the inauguration of the strategically important port.

Over a month ago, India sent the first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port, which Swaraj remarked as a gift from Indians to Afghans.

Swaraj then said that India remains committed to working closely with its regional and international partners to bring peace, security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.

As India has committed $500 million to build the port while Iran invested about $1 Billion for the Phase 1 of the whole project.

DG of Ports and Maritime Organisation in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Behrouz Aqaee, said about 100,000-tonne ships will be able to call at the port after it becomes operational. The inauguration of the port was attended by delegates from 27 countries.